Structure for a board game

ABSTRACT

A structure for a board game, constituted of a regular geometrically shaped body with a vertical axis of symmetry. This body is horizontally subdivided into independent levels ( 1  to  6 ), rotational about the axis of symmetry of the body, and they have recesses ( 7 ) on the side surfaces in which game pieces of an equal contour ( 10 - 11 ) can be coupled.

This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 10/542,922,filed 6 Jan. 2006, which is the National Stage of Application No.PCT/ES03/00546, filed 24 Oct. 2003, and which application(s) areincorporated herein by reference.

The present invention refers to a structure for a board game, allowingthe development of highly attractive game, with the participation of twocompeting players.

The structure of the invention is designed for the development of a gamewith simple rules, which can be played by anyone, and which at the sametime constitutes a game allowing each player to apply developmentaltechniques to achieve, on one hand, the highest possible score, and onthe other, to obstruct or create barriers for the other player, toprevent the attainment of points.

The game of the invention comprises a support having an infinity ofrecesses dimensioned for housing in each one of them a game piece, thegame being based on the placement by the player of the largest number ofgame piece alignments, in a preset number, for example four.

According to the invention, the structure serving as a base for thedevelopment of the game comprises a regular geometrically shaped body,with a vertical axis of symmetry. This body is horizontally subdividedinto independent levels, which can rotate about a shaft coinciding withthe vertical axis of symmetry, these levels having equal recesses on thetheir side surface, in each one of which recesses a game piece of thesame contour can be coupled.

The geometrically shaped body defining the support for the developmentof the game can adopt, for example, a pyramidal, frustoconical,cylindrical, prismatic, shape, etc., and generally any geometric shapewith a vertical axis of symmetry.

Preferably all the levels will be of equal height, and the recesses willbe arranged in horizontal alignment on the side surface thereof. Theside surface of each level will be of a height slightly exceeding thediameter of the recesses, such that on each level there is a horizontalalignment of recesses.

The body forming the support of the game can be extended in the lowerportion, under the lower level, into a base or hollow pedestal whichlaterally opens to the exterior through opposing surfaces, through whichtwo extractible drawers are coupled which are intended for containingthe game pieces.

As indicated, the game is based on achieving the alignment of the presetnumber of game pieces, for example four, the greatest amount of timespossible, this alignment being able to run horizontally, vertically ordiagonally. Rather than this alignment, the game can consist of creatinga certain geometric drawing by means of the game pieces. At the sametime that each player tries to achieve the greatest possible number ofcombinations, he or she must try to prevent the opponent from being ableto achieve such alignments or drawings.

In order to be able to distinguish the game pieces of either player,these game pieces will have two different colors, each player choosingone of these colors. Furthermore, each game piece can include on one ofits sides an indication corresponding to the score obtained by placingthis game piece and completing an alignment or the geometric drawing tobe made therewith.

Each player will place the game pieces such that he or she can achievethe alignment or geometric drawing sought after. On the other hand, heor she must try to arrange his or her game pieces such that they blockthe other player from obtaining an alignment of consecutive game pieces.

The game can be played under different rules and introducing differentlevels of difficulty, which can further be increased by means of therotational possibility of each level, with regard to the adjacentrotations, once certain conditions have been complied with, therotational possibility of each level furthermore being variable.

In order to more easily understand the constitution of the structure ofthe invention, as well as the possibilities of the development of playtherewith, a more detailed description of the structure will be madebelow with the aid of the attached drawings, in which a non-limitingembodiment is shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a structure for a board game,constituted according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a vertical sectional view of the structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the structure of FIG. 1, with thelower level rotated 90° with regard to the lower base and the adjacentupper level.

The structure of the invention comprises a regular geometrically shapedsupport or body with a vertical axis of symmetry which, in the exampleshown in the drawings, adopts a regular quadrangular pyramidal shape.This pyramidal body is horizontally subdivided into levels indicatedwith reference numbers 1 to 6, all of them being of the same height. Ascan be understood, the number of levels can be different, and the heightcan also vary among them.

Each one of these levels has recesses 7 on their side surface, thenumber of these recesses on the surfaces of each level varying,increasing from the upper level 1, including only one recess, to thelower level 6, including eleven recesses. The side surface of each levelwill be of a sufficient height so that a horizontal alignment ofrecesses 7 can be arranged on each side.

The body with the described constitution can be assembled on a lowerhollow base or pedestal 8, open on two of its opposing sides, throughwhich two drawers 9 can be coupled for placing the game pieces 10 and11.

The game pieces 10 and 11 contained in the two drawers, each one of themintended for a player, can be of different colors. Furthermore, thesecame pieces can include an indication or score for the development ofthe game on one of their sides or surfaces.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the different levels 1 to 6 are assembled on ashaft 12, with independent rotation ability with regard thereto, thisshaft 12 coinciding with the axis of symmetry of the pyramid. To allowthe rotation, each one of the levels can include a bushing 13 and awasher 14, which will ensure the successive support of the differentlevels through these components, such that the rotation of each levelwith regard to the adjacent levels can be easily carried out.

The shaft 12 can be anchored at one of its ends to the upper level orapex 1 and fixed to the base 8 through a nut 15.

With this constitution, during the development of the game, any of thelevels, for example the level with reference number 6 in FIG. 3, can berotated a certain angle, for example 90°, with regard to the base 8and/or adjacent levels.

As has already been indicated, the described structure allows thedevelopment of a game in which the aim is to arrange a certain number ofgame pieces of each player forming a certain composition, whichfurthermore can be an impediment, in a certain path, for the formationof said composition by the opposing player.

By means of numbering of the different surfaces, the rotationalpossibility of the levels, etc., different manners of development anddegrees of difficulty in the game can be introduced.

Although in the described example the structure is pyramidal shaped, thestructure could adopt any other geometric shape with a vertical axis ofsymmetry, for example a conical, cylindrical, prismatic shape, etc., inall cases the geometric body being horizontally divided into levels,which bear the recesses 7 on their side surfaces for the placement ofthe game pieces.

1. A structure for a board game, comprising a body with a pyramidal shape having a regular quadrangular base and with a vertical A structure for a board game, comprising a body with a pyramidal shape having a regular quadrangular base and with a vertical axis of symmetry, which body is horizontally subdivided into independent levels, which are rotational about a shaft coinciding with the vertical axis of symmetry, each of said levels having four side surfaces and having, in said side surfaces, a plurality of equal recesses, in each one of which recesses a game piece of an equal contour can be coupled, wherein the upper level, which constitutes the vertex of the pyramidal body, has one recess in each of its lateral surfaces; and in that each one of said levels has recesses on their side surfaces, the number of said recesses on the surfaces of each level varying, increasing from the upper level, including only one recess, to the lower lever, including eleven recesses.
 2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the levels are of an equal height.
 3. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said body extends in the lower portion into a hollow base or pedestal, which laterally opens to the exterior through two opposite surfaces, through which two extractible drawers containing the game pieces can be coupled.
 4. A structure according to claim 1, wherein each level includes a bushing mounted around the shaft, and in that the structure includes washers between the bushings to facilitate the rotation of one level with regard to the adjacent levels. 